High intensity lighting fixture having ventilation chambers



Dec. 5, 1967 M. BRAMSEN 3,356,838

HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING VENTILATION CHAMBERS Filed April 26, 1965 P heet 1 INVENTOR M? Bra/27.9w?

Dec. 5, 1967 M. BRAMSEN 3,356,838

HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING VENTILATION CHAMBERS Filed April 26, 1965 2 h t 2 v m y FIG.2 36 52 INVENTOR flfar/ 5702773627 147 TOR/M6715 United States Patent 3,356,838 HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING VENTILATION CHAMBERS Mark Bramsen, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to Amplex Corporation, Carle Place, N.Y., a corporation of New 'ork Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,590 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-3) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The subject disclosure relates to a floodlight using an iodine quartz lamp of relatively high intensity which generates a relatively large amount of heat. The floodlight consists of a housing having a body portion open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof. A shield is mounted within the housing in overlying rela tion with the closed end of the body portion of the housing so that a chamber is'defined between the shield and the closed end of the housing. This chamber mounts the lamp tube and the reflector therefor. An aperture is defined in the chamber to permit the light to be radiated forwardly from the lamp and out of the open end of the body portion of the housing. The lamp as well as the reflector are mounted on a mounting plate which is interlocked with the shield, the latter also being apertured for cooperation with the interlocking means in the mounting plate and shield. The entire construction permits and provides for ventilation and dissipation of the heat to reduce the amount of heat transmitted to other portions of the fixture.

The present invention relates generally to lighting fixtures of the floodlight type and particularly to quartz type floodlights.

Iodine quartz lamps have the advantage, especially when used in floodlights, of providing relatively high intensity, for example 300 watts, for a relatively small size lamp. These lamps generate a relatively large amount of heat and it is of prime desirability to reduce, as much as possible, the amount of heat transmitted to the base of the lamp. This is of especial importance since various regulations limit the amount of heat that can be transmitted to a support, for example a building wall, to which the lamp'base is secured.

It is also desirable to reduce the heat transmitted to the object upon which the lamp is focused. These type lamps are primarily intended for use in display lighting so that they are ordinarily provided-with a color filter, or the like, to provide a desired color in the transmitted light. A conventional color filter comprises a lens means which is made of ordinary glass which is provided on one surface thereof with a dichroic coating which serves as a color separating filter. The other surface of the lens means or a supplementary lens is provided with a coating which blocks the passage of infra-red and reflects the infra-red light rays back into the lamp housing. Due to the high intensity of the iodine quartz lamp, the reflected heat would raise the temperature of the light fixture, including the base thereof, and especially the surface upon which the base is mounted, beyond a permissible amount.

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a high intensity floodlight that will provide a relatively large reduction in temperature between the high intensity lamp thereof and the base thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an iodine quartz type floodlight in which provision is Patented Dec. 5, 1967 made for creating heat convection currents which Will greatly dissipate the heat within the floodlight.

In connection with the foregoing object of the present invention, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a construction for a lamp of the described type wherein the lamp is provided with inner and outer chambers in each of which individual heat convection currents are established with a view toward providing a substantial reduction in the heat present at the base of the lamp.

In accordance with the foregoing object, it is a still further object of the present invention to provide means for separately venting both chambers to create a relatively large heat gradient between the heat present at the iodine quartz tube and that present at the'base of the lamp.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a highly novel light filter retainer means for a floodlight.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the appended drawings.

In the drawings, which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention:

FIG. 1 is an elevation View of a floodlight pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, on a reduced scale, taken in the direction of arrow 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken on.

the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6, one lens element of the lens means being removed; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the floodlight.

Referring now to the drawings in detail there is shown a floodlight 10 pursuant to the present invention. As here shown, floodlight 10 is provided with a housing 12 which is mounted on a base 14 by means of a double swivel connector means 16. The base 14 is intended to be mounted on a suitable mounting surface, for example, a wall, a floor or a ceiling The swivel connector means 16 comprises a sleeve 18 having a first swivel connector 20 for connection to base 14 and a second swivel connector 22 for connection to housing 12. More specifically, it will be noted that housing 12 has a cylindrical body 24, provided with an end wall 26 from which there projects a centrally disposed hollow neck 28. End wall 26 is provided with radial ventilation slots 30, as best shown in FIGS. 2. 5 and 8.

The light source for the floodlight '10 is provided, as here shown, by a high intensity lamp, preferably an iodine quartz lamp 60. The lamp is mounted in a pair of sockets 62 which, in turn, are mounted in a reflector 64. The reflector is provided with a mounting bracket 66 which is secured by screws 68 to a mounting plate 70. Screws 68 also secure the plate 70 to a supporting V bracket 72 which is mounted on an externally threaded from lamp 60 may be reflected and directly pass through the shield aperture 88. Further, it will be noted that the arms 76 of bracket 72, to which is mounted the plate 70 (which in turn mounts bracket 66), pass through slots 78 in shield 80 and are secured by screws 90 to the end wall 26 of housing 12. The hollow bolt 74, which mounts brackets 72, extends through housing neck 28 to engage with an internally threaded sleeve 91 provided on the second swivel 22.

Electric power for the lamp is supplied to the wires 92 which pass through base 14, through swivel connector means 16, through bolt 74, through an aperture 94 provided in plate 70, to the electric contacts 9696 for the lamp sockets 6262, respectively.

The foregoing construction is effective to provide a large temperature gradient between the heat at lamp sockets 62 and the heat at the base 14. It will be noted that a comparatively large chamber, generally indicated by the reference numeral 180, is defined by the shield 80 and the bottom wall 26 and neck 28 of the housing 12. This chamber is vented by the slots 30 in the housing wall. Except for slots 30 and the aperture 88 in shield 80, this chamber is completely enclosed. While some of the heat radiates forwardly from lamp 60 through aperture 88, much of the heat is reflected back into the chamber by end wall 86. As a result, convection currents are set up in the chamber, with these currents tending to flow through the ventilating slots 30 outwardly from the lamp. Due to this ventilating action, the temperature of neck 28 is reduced and the temperature of the bolt 74 is also reduced. As a result, the heat conveyed by conduction through the neck 28, the bolt 74 and the swivel connection 16 to the base 14 is greatly reduced. Consequently, it has been found that the heat transmitted by base 14 to a supporting surface is well within the limits required by pertinent regulation, such as building or electrical codes, or the like.

If it is desired to project colored light from the lamp 10, provision is made for a lens mounting means 32 which is adapted to be releasably mounted on the housing 12. Lens mount 32 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 34 having an inturned flange 36 at one end thereof. Body 34 is provided with longitudinal ventilation slots 38.

The lens mounting body 34, as here shown, is provided with the three leaf springs 40. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each leaf spring 40 is secured to the inner surface of body member 34 by means of a pair of rivets 42. The three leaf springs are equally spaced on said inner surface. Each leaf spring projects, as at 43, beyond the rim 44 of body 34, opposite the shoulder 36 thereof. Each leaf spring projection is provided with a reflexed portion or clip 46 which terminates in an end hook 48. The hooks 48 are adapted to snap-engage on the rim 50 of housing body 24, as best shown in FIG. 2, to mount the lens mounting means in releasable engagement at the open end of housing '12.

The leaf springs 40 also serve to releasably mount a plurality of filter lenses within the lens mount 32. As here shown, the lens mount 32 mounts an outer color filter or color separating lens 52, preferably provided with a dichroic coating, and an inner infra-red heat filter 54. More specifically, the upper portion 56 of each leaf spring is unsecured to the mount 32 above the rivets 42, so that it is spaced inwardly from the inner surface of body 34 of the lens mount, as best shown in FIG. 7. Consequently, the color lense 52 is removably disposed within mount 32 by insertion thereof between flange 34 of the mount and the upper end portion 56 of each spring 40. It will be understood that the filter is inserted into the mount 32 through the open end 44 of the mount and urged beyond spring portion 56 which will snap behind the filter as shown in FIG. 7.

Pursuant to another novel feature of the present invention, the free upper end portion 56 of each leaf spring 40 is provided with an inwardly extending tongue 58. In order to mount the infra-red heat lens in position, after the color lens has been inserted, the heat lens is inserted through the open end 44 of mount 32 until it is in surfaceto-surface abutment with the color lens, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. As it moves past the tongues 58, the latter are stressed and then snap back into position behind the heat lens, as shown in said figures, whereby the heat lens is retained in position. It will be understood that one or more additional lenses may be provided in mount 32 by providing each spring 40 with an additional tongue 58, for each additional lens. It will be understood that each lens is readily removable from the mount by stressing the tongues 58, or the ends 56, as the case may be, toward the inner surface of body 34.

It will be noted that a second or outer chamber, which is generally indicated by the reference numeral 98, is defined between the shield and the combination of the housing body 24 and the lens mount body 34. As previously indicated, heat waves radiate from tube 60 through aperture 88 in shield 80. The effect of the infrared filter 54 is to retain this heat within said outer chamber since this filter overlies the aperture. However, it will be noted that this additional chamber is vented by means of the slots 38. Consequently, it will be apparent that the convection currents which are established in chamber 98 will pass out of said chamber through the slots 38.

The combined effect of the two chambers 98 and 100, each having its own venting action, reduces the over-all temperature of the housing 12. Consequently, there is a reduction in the amount of heat developed in the base 14 as a result of conduction from housing 12. As a result, the heat conducted from the base, to a support surface on which the base is mounted, is also greatly reduced.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been illustrated and described a highly novel high intensity floodlight in which there will be a sharp reduction in temperature between the sockets of a quartz tube mounted therein and its housing base. It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the present invention without, however, departing from the basic inventive concept thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A floodlight comprising:

a housing having a body portion open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof;

a shield mounted within said housing and overlying the closed end of said body portion;

a chamber defined by said shield and said closed housing end;

means to mount a lamp tube and a reflector within said chamber;

means defining an aperture in said chamber through which light is radiated forwardly from the lamp out of the open end of said body portion;

means to vent said chamber;

a mounting plate on which said lamp tube mounting means and said reflector are mounted;

means interlocking said mounting plate and said shield;

said interlocking means comprising bracket means operatively engaged with said mounting plate;

and apertured means defined in said shield;

said bracket means being engaged in said apertured means.

2. A floodlight comprising:

a hollow cylindrical housing member open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof by a slotted end wall;

a light reflector mounted within said housing member in spaced relation to said slotted end wall;

said light reflector having means to mount a quartz light tube;

a hollow cylindrical cupped shield overlying said light reflector and secured in encompassing relation to said slotted end wall;

said shield having a light transmitting aperture in registry with said reflector; a hollow cylindrical lens mounting means releasably secured to the open end of said housing member; said lens mounting means having provision to mount lens means in registry with said light transmitting aperture;

said lens mounting means being slotted;

said slotted end Wall having radial slots defined therein;

said lens mounting means having longitudinal slots defined therein;

a base member operatively connected by swivel means to said radially slotted end wall;

and bracket means mounted within said shield;

said bracket means mounting said reflector and having end portions which extend through said shield;

said end portions being secured to said radially slotted end wall. 3. A floodlight in accordance with claim 2 wherein said bracket means are provided on a hollow bolt engaged 5 with said swivel means, and wherein there is further provided a pair of electric wires extending through said base, said swivel means and said bolt to said tube mount.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

M. H. HAYES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLOODLIGHT COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING A BODY PORTION OPEN AT ONE END THEREOF AND CLOSED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF; A SHIELD MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND OVERLYING THE CLOSED END OF SAID BODY PORTION; A CHAMBER DEFINED BY SAID SHIELD AND SAID CLOSED HOSING END; MEANS TO MOUNT A LAMP TUBE AND A REFLECTOR WITHIN SAID CHAMBER; MEANS DEFINING AN APERTURE IN SAID CHAMBER THROUGH WHICH LIGHT IS RADIATED FORWARDLY FROM THE LAMP OUT OF THE OPEN END OF SAID BODY PORTION; MEANS TO VENT SAID CHAMBER; A MOUNTING PLATE ON WHICH SAID LAMP TUBE MOUNTING MEANS AND SAID REFLECTOR ARE MOUNTED; MEANS INTERLOCKING SAID MOUNTING PLATE AND SAID SHIELD; 